“Thank you, Vivian. President McReynolds. Ms. Ransom. Distinguished guests. Ladies and gentlemen. Good morning.

Greetings and good wishes to everyone from the Government of Canada – and especially today, from my Cabinet colleague, Stephen Owen, the Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification Canada.

I’m here today to congratulate the Canadian Youth Business Foundation on the national launch of the online version of the Entre Nous mentorship program.

The Government of Canada applauds the development of this program and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation’s passion to help young entrepreneurs.

We share that passion. Empowering youth is a federal priority. This priority is put into action, in part, by our support for CYBF because it provides advice, loans and mentorship programs that give young people the chance to turn their creativity into a business.

Most importantly, this mentoring is provided by expert, successful businesspeople.

There is a tremendous resource with the Baby Boomers turning over in the workforce that presents great new challenges and opportunities.

Two years ago, Western Economic Diversification Canada provided federal government support through its contribution of $900,000 to assist with setting up the foundation in Regina and Saskatoon. Part of this funding was used to create a $500,000 repayable loan fund. Another $200,000 was a non-repayable contribution toward mentorship programs. The remaining $200,000 was directed for CYBF operating costs.

This original announcement received special recognition because His Royal Highness Prince Charles attended.

Since its launch in Saskatchewan, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation has continued making great strides all across Canada and the West in guiding youth into business.

In British Columbia, for example, four young businessmen founded the Ekkon Business Group. In three years their e-commerce software business has grown into a 17-person operation, with customers spanning North America and Europe including 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, A&W restaurants and Scott USA. And it plans to add offices in North America and Asia.

Here in Saskatchewan, Nezar Freeny was able to look beyond his home in Saskatoon and into the Arabian Gulf to launch his IT solutions and web hosting business, Amanah Tech Inc. He recently signed a $1 million deal with another IT company to provide sales and support service in English and Arabic.

To see some of the tremendous growth that is happening in Saskatchewan, we need look no further than the back of this room.

The CYBF is encouraging this type of success across the West and across Canada because it helps young entrepreneurs obtain the guidance they need through mentoring.

By making the Entre Nous program available online, the CYBF is making its mentoring more accessible. Young entrepreneurs can now ask questions and exchange advice at the pace of their business – on real time!

Online accessibility is also a big gain for rural and Aboriginal youth. Regardless of location, youth entrepreneurs now have a sounding board, a connection and a well of experience to draw from.

The CYBF’s work in mentoring complements what many of the other partners in WD’s Business Service Network are doing. Community Futures Development Corporations and the Women Entrepreneurs Program also have youth programs that bring business advice to young people throughout the province and western Canada.

All together they are empowering youth to take initiative and create their futures.

Congratulations, CYBF, for supplying youth with another guiding tool to explore business, and to carve out their place in the new knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.

Thank you. ”

THE HONOURABLE RALPH GOODALE, P.C., M.P.

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